Tag: Gaza

Netanyahu

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Netanyahu

By Jim Fletcher

Below is a powerful tribute to a roaring lion for the nation of Israel. Some love him, most hate or despise him. He and Trump, (IMO) are much alike. Raised for such a time as this, together they have proved a valiant and resolute pair of compatriots against the evils of the day in the Middle East, especially there firm conviction that Iran must be de-clawed. Never count either one out. Cheers and God’s best to them both. Rh

I well remember asking a new Israeli friend in 1996 how to pronounce the name of a rising politician, one running for prime minister of Israel against the old lion, Shimon Peres.

The new lion would do quite well for himself.

Benjamin Netanyahu, against all odds, beat Peres in 1996 and though he lost to the hapless Ehud Barak three years later, he re-emerged later to become Israel’s longest-serving PM. 

(When I say “hapless,” I mean that Barak was as a politician. As a commander within the IDF’s elite counter-terrorism unit, Barak was truly elite. Israel’s fighters-turned-politicians often do maddening things once in office. Netanyahu himself has bucked that trend and has served with distinction.)

Netanyahu was hated from the beginning, although he’s always had a strong base within the Likud Party (somewhat akin to our Republicans). Raised on a strong diet of Zionism from Benzion and Cela, he and his brothers have been devoted lions for the state of Israel. I remember in Bibi’s book, A Durable Peace, he described a training maneuver that took his unit through the Negev Desert, emerging at Masada one night. Sweating, breathing hard as he looked at the ancient fortress, Netanyahu felt a real link to his ancestors. This is the essence of Zionism and has served him well as he navigated evil leaders like Arafat, Clinton, and all UN chiefs. 

This week, I thought he got a nice tribute via X, as @liberallikudnik wrote:

“Begin grew old and weary and handed over all of Sinai to Egypt. Rabin grew old and weary and brought armed terrorists into the heart of the country. Sharon grew old and weary and turned Gaza into Judenrein and a terrorist state. Netanyahu in their age, a hero like a lion, full of vigor, building in Judea and Samaria, leading the IDF back to Gaza, to Lebanon and Syria, and eliminating the regime of evil in Iran. May he be healthy.”

True enough. Although I take exception to the partial description of Menachem Begin, a truly elite PM for Israel. As the winner of the premiership in 1977, leading Likud, Begin has arguably been Israel’s most religious prime minister. He was a great man. Yes, he tired at the end, but his mind and body were spent fighting as a Zionist. May his memory be a blessing.

I would say Yitzhak Rabin, as perhaps Israel’s least religious leader, made some fundamental diplomatic errors, yet. Sharon inexplicably emptied Gaza of Jews, but I suspect that had a lot to do with intense pressure from the George Bush gang. Among the weakest Israeli PMs—if you can call Naftali Bennett’s and Yair Lapid’s five minutes in office actual leaders—are those two, ideological foes that still came together in their hatred of Netanyahu.

New Israeli elections will emerge this fall and as usual, like clockwork, Netanyahu’s political obituary is being polished up as we speak. It can be added to the dozens more than have come before. It’s a bit like Oklahoma and Texas, or vice versa, not having a chance against the other in the Cotton Bowl. Then…the inevitable upset.

Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticized, heavily, by literally everyone. He has a polarizing personality, but I would argue not of his own making. I haven’t always liked his decisions, but everyone does that. I will go to my grave believing that he is much more the young man that sat around the family dinner table in the Old Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem. As I’ve written before, I knew the old man the last decade he lived, and a couple times walked a few blocks over to gaze on the sublime scene of Jerusalem’s Old City in the moonlight. My wonderful conversations with Benzion make it clear to me all three Netanyahu boys will take Zion into their hearts for the duration. All three served in the same unit, Sayeret Matkal. 

At present, there is no one fit to tie Netanyahu’s shoelaces among their political echelon. 

Here’s to King Bibi!

Trump’s Board of Peace – Prophetic or Egoistical??

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

“The Board of Peace has unlimited potential. Last October, I released a Plan for the permanent end to the Conflict in Gaza, and our Vision was unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council. Shortly thereafter, we facilitated Humanitarian Aid at record speed, and secured the release of every living and deceased Hostage. Just last month, two dozen distinguished Founding Members joined me in Davos, Switzerland, to celebrate its official formation, and present a bold Vision for the Civilians in Gaza, and then, ultimately, far beyond Gaza — WORLD PEACE!” President Trump

I fear that Trump with his deal making persona and his admitted lack of Biblical knowledge, he can be set up for failure.  Beside all that I am not excited about the $10 billion he has pledged from the United States.  Trump is trying to solve a bad situation by throwing money at the problem.  Money and jobs are not the problem in Gaza or other hot spots.  It is the Islamic mindset.  Until they accept Israel’s right to exist, nothing will change. 

In these shaky and prophetic times we live, any version or derivative of “World Peace” gets on my radar.  It is sometimes easy to see all events pertaining to Israel and the Middle East in light of Bible prophecy, but not all are.  Forerunner? Possibly.   So prophetic or egotistical, we shall see.  (I am in no way saying that Trump is the ant-christ!).  But this could be a forerunner to something to build on.  We shall see.  Or is it just another failed attempt at peace in a region with age old hatred and religious and cultural divides that will never heal.  At least not until the Prince of Peace comes.  

Trump said contributing nations had raised $7 billion as an initial down payment for Gaza reconstruction. Contributors included Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait, he said. The membership is mostly made up of Middle Eastern countries, plus leaders from outside the region who may be looking to gain favor with Trump.

Estimates for rebuilding Gaza, which was reduced to rubble after two years of war, range up to $70 billion.   “We have to get this right.  There is no Plan B for Gaza.  Plan B is going back to war.  No one here wants that,” said the U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio. At this point Hamas has not disarmed.

Trump proposed the board in September when he announced his plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza. He later made clear the board’s remit would expand beyond Gaza to tackle other conflicts worldwide, a point he reiterated on Wednesday by saying it would look into “hotspots” around the world.

The Bible tells us in the book of Daniel 9:27, that the anti-christ with his Beast system of one world governance will “confirm” a seven year peace treaty with Israel.  Interesting choice of word, “confirm.”  Since I believe that the Bible says what it means and  means what it says, this tells me a peace treaty of some kind will already be in place at the arrival of the anti-christ.  And by the way that word doesn’t mean in place of Christ, but instead of Christ.  Much more important context.

The ecumenical movement started years ago and will increase.  Unity sounds great.  But we must stand on the absolute truths of the Word.  Unity on the essentials, and freedom on the non-essentials. No unity can be possible without naming the name of Jesus as the only way of salvation.  True Christians will always be in contrast to the world and fight against the hedonistic culture of today.  I believe woke based churches will play a big role in the rise of the Beast and his system.  Woke, liberal work base churches with a mandate to love all regardless of lifestyle change, who also deny the validity of the Word are an anathema to the true church.  After all, what is more deadly than a false man made religion.  What we see today with woke churches and the absolute ignorance of the American church is mind boggling.  

Is this the rising of the Beast system, peace, or the ramblings of an old man’s ego??  I’ll leave you to decide. Time will tell.

Live in the Word and walk in His Spirit. 

Mid-East Tidbits

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Analysis in Turkey: The U.S. and Israel Are Operating in Syria While Turkey Is Being Pushed to the Margins

Turkish journalist Arslan Bulut argues that recent developments in Syria illustrate a clear axis of cooperation between the United States and Israel, while Turkey finds itself increasingly constrained on the ground.

According to Bulut, Washington continues to operate in Syria through local forces, including the SDF, which is affiliated with the PKK, and uses them as a direct lever of pressure on Ankara.

Bulut notes that despite past public confrontations between Erdoğan and Israel, security relations have been maintained behind the scenes. Even today, he claims, Turkey effectively aligns its actions with the American-Israeli framework—in Libya, in Egypt, and especially in Syria.

He further argues that while U.S. forces operate freely in northern Syria, the Turkish army is restricted in its ability to move southward, which in his view indicates an erosion of Ankara’s regional standing.  (Turkey Today) Turkey is still one to watch in the Middle East, Erdogan still believes he could be the last Mahadi (world Islamic leader), at least he has a vision of that.  They still want in on the Gaza peace force.  Israel says no. Rh

Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump will discuss another strike on Iran – against the backdrop of growing concern in Israel about the pace of recovery at the nuclear sites and the Iranian missiles that were damaged in the 12-day war.  (NBC). Just as suspected, the Israeli/American military was not finished in Iran.  Force and complete defeat is all the tribes there understand.  Iran may be harmed, but a desperate animal can do lots of damage.  Will have to be dealt with soon.  Rh

DNI Tulsi Gabbard says the greatest threat to freedom is Islam: 

“The greatest near and long term threat to our freedom is the threat of Islamist ideology.”  Pleasantly surprised she may be the best of all Trump’s cabinet picks, no flowery political speech from her. Rh

This is huge news on The Third Temple in Israel.

Israel Today is reporting that “Israelis of priestly descent practice their biblical duties at a scale model of the Temple altar, at a facility near Maaleh Adumim on the eastern outskirts of Jerusalem.”  Big news on the prophetic front here.  We know in the middle of the Tribulation the anti-christ sets himself up as God in the 3rd temple in Jerusalem.  That will cause a new turn toward Jehovah God for the Jews.  Some will flee to a place in the wilderness where God will protect them in safety.  Probably Petra. (Revelation 12:6,14).  Things are moving fast as we speak.  Acceleration?  God’s timing?  Look up our redemption draws near. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  Rh

Vice President Vance in an interview:

“99% of Republicans – and, I believe, probably 97% of Democrats – do not hate Jews because they are Jews. What is actually taking place is a genuine backlash against the long-standing consensus in American foreign policy. We need to have this conversation rather than attempt to silence it. Most Americans are not antisemitic, will never be antisemitic, and we should focus on the real debate. 

“May I say your are wrong Mr. Vice President, your “idea” and premise is wrong.  If that were so, the antisemitism attacks here in America and the degenerate podcasters  who push Israel blood libels etc would not have such a huge following.  Sir your friend Tucker Carlson has had holocaust deniers and himself has spoken evil and hatred toward the Jews just because of who they are.  Christian Conservatives hear you, and will remember come 2028.  Our foreign policy is NOt the issue, it is those who hate the Jews.”  Rh

⸻

When disinformation and conspiracy theories spread unchecked, the poison is already in the system – and doubt inevitably follows.

Israel can – and will – survive without America.

Those are not my words; they are God’s Word. Read Ezekiel 38.

The real question is not whether Israel can survive without America, but whether any nation can survive without standing with Israel.

Read Zechariah 14 again – especially its latter portion – and then draw your conclusion.

Israel was, is, and never will be a perfect nation.

Yet the God of Israel has never sought anyone’s approval for why He continues to use them in such a powerful way. He works in mysterious ways so that He alone receives the glory.

Consider how Romans 11 concludes:

“Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” AMIR TSARFATI

The Unsettled Middle East

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

As always it seems the chaos of the Middle East leads my concerns for the upcoming weeks. Israel is still trying to consolidate their victories, U.S. still seems to be reaching toward the Arabs, Muslim etc. for deals and investments. Not sure I would want to get in bed with radicals. Trump seems not to notice their bad behavior. Deals made, but no money yet? All eyes will continue to be on Jerusalem that, as Bible prophecy indicates, is a stone of stumbling for the nations. Iran’s still a threat, Hezbollah still not disarmed, and Hamas still playing the same old games. Will we never learn? No, I don’t think so. Deals with deceit will never work. Time to unleash the firepower and finish the job. We are almost back where we started. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Content below taken from http://www.billkoenig.com

Trump, Netanyahu, the UN, and Iran: A High-Risk Week for Israel

This was one of the most geopolitically consequential weeks of the year for Israel, marked by unusual U.S. messaging, UN momentum against Israeli sovereignty, and large-scale military posturing by Iran. As the region reconfigures itself politically and militarily, Israel faces a tightening strategic environment that will require clarity, resolve, and decisive policy judgment.

Trump Pushes for Netanyahu Pardon — While Warning Israel on Syria

Former U.S. President Donald Trump continued publicly calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be pardoned of all charges related to his ongoing corruption trials in Israel. Trump framed the cases as politically motivated, urging closure for the sake of Israeli stability and unity.

However, the tonal contrast of the week was unmistakable.

Even as Trump advocated for Netanyahu’s legal relief, he personally warned Israel not to intervene militarily inside Syria, signaling that Washington does not want Israeli action disrupting sensitive regional balances — particularly where Russian, Iranian, and Syrian forces intersect.

This dual posture — unconditional rhetorical support for Netanyahu as an individual, paired with caution toward Israeli military activity — reflects Trump’s realpolitik approach: transactional, flexible, and often unscripted. For Israel, it presents both opportunity and risk.

Strong backing for Netanyahu is politically valuable, but a U.S. administration urging operational restraint in Syria could create strategic handcuffs precisely when Iran is embedding itself deeper across the northern theater.

UN Empowered Through Gaza Deal — and Moves Against Golan Heights

Trump’s Gaza stabilization plan has effectively re-elevated the United Nations into a central role in Gaza administration and long-term conflict architecture. The UN, after years of diminished influence, is suddenly positioned again as a gatekeeper for post-conflict arrangements.

The consequences were immediate.

This week, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights — one of the most strategically vital security buffers Israel possesses. The timing could not be more significant:

• A UN empowered by the Gaza framework

• A UN resolution targeting sovereignty over the Golan

• An international system once again conditioned to pressure Israel

For decades, the Golan Heights has been Israel’s northern shield — the high ground preventing Syrian and Iranian forces from threatening Galilee. A UN-backed withdrawal demand signals that international campaigns to erode Israel’s territorial legitimacy are escalating again.

Trump’s deal may have been designed for stabilization, but its practical outcome is that the UN now possesses renewed authority to define territorial questions, which historically has not favored Israel.

The Strategic Danger of Non-Ideological Foreign Policy

Unlike administrations with clearly defined pro-Israel ideological foundations, Trump’s foreign policy operates on pragmatic deal-flow, not doctrinal alignment. That flexibility can generate agreements — Abraham Accords proved that — but it also risks exposing Israel to rapid shifts in U.S. posture.

Non-ideological diplomacy means alliances are fluid, conditional, and transactional.

This week demonstrated that fluidity. Support for Netanyahu’s pardon suggests closeness. Warnings on Syria and a UN-empowering Gaza framework signal distance. Together, these create uncertainty — and uncertainty is a battlefield advantage for Iran, Hezbollah, and the UN diplomatic bloc.

Israel is entering a moment where the greatest threat may not be military — but diplomatic isolation combined with strategic ambiguity from its closest ally.

Iran Simulates War — and Threatens 2,000-Missile Barrage

Iran, sensing the moment, staged large-scale military exercises in the Gulf of Oman, firing ballistic and cruise missiles at simulated targets designed to reflect wartime conditions.

Just weeks ago, Iranian officials warned that if war with Israel erupts, Tehran would unleash 2,000 missiles at the same time — a saturation attack intended to overwhelm Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and the multilayer missile defense grid.

The 12-day war already demonstrated what smaller barrages can achieve. Two thousand simultaneous launches would represent a magnitude beyond anything Israel has ever faced.

Iran is signaling capability, intent, and confidence.

Northern Front — Israel vs. Hezbollah

In the shadow of Iran’s drills, Israel continued striking Hezbollah infrastructure inside Lebanon, targeting launch sites, weapons depots, and command channels. Hezbollah is relentlessly working to reconstitute its arsenal and precision-missile capacity, seeking parity or superiority in a future war.

Israel, fully aware of this trajectory, is racing to degrade Hezbollah faster than Hezbollah can rebuild.

This is a detention-attrition cycle — but one inch away from a regional ignition point.

Lies and Deceptions Control the Narrative

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

The flat out lies and deception that takes place today in unprecedented in modern times. It will only get worse as AI becomes more popular and accessible to the common man. Imagine what the world would be like if the effort of self promotion and greedy gain would be replaced with working for the good of mankind! Rh

https://www.jns.org/xs-new-location-feature-unmasks-pro-hamas-disinformation-network/

Prophetic Update 

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

“This is a week that many evangelical and biblically-aligned observers would say would make the anti-christ proud — not because Trump is the anti-christ, but because the sequence of events aligns with patterns of global consolidation and international control over Israel’s future.”  William Koenig

This was a horrible week for Israel.  President Trump has done everything he could to cozy up to radical Islam from pushing through a vote in the UN for Arab and Muslim Security Force in Gaza, to a full blown coronation of the Saudi Crown Prince, and ending with a meeting with a well known radical anti-Semite just elected mayor of New York.  

The UN Security Council gave Trump  the votes for an International Security Force to keep peace in Gaza.  That is like having the proverbial fox oversee the chicken coop.  Having radical Islamist keep peace in Gaza that in part funded Hamas?  Phase 1, return all hostages, Phase 2 disarm, not done so let’s skip to a peacekeeping force.  That should work out ok. What was Einstein’s definition of insanity?  

Almost a coronation of MBS, crown prince of Saudi Arabia.  Saudi Arabia gets F-35 jets, our best and latest fighter jet, (horrible Idea) and we get up to a Trillion dollars of investments.  Nothing was signed yet.  Saudi Arabia may join, which Trump is praying for, the Abraham Accords.  MBS wants a definite path to a two state solution.  Joel 3:2, God says he will judge any nation that divides the covenant land of Israel.  Again, a horrible idea. Once more treating Israel as a vassal state.

Maybe the most incredulous idea, that is borderline stupidity, welcoming Mamdani after his statement of jailing Netanyahu, disbanding the police, and his general hatred of America.  Full blown Islamic socialist who appointed a radical female pro Palestinian to replace himself in the New York Legislature.  Her degree is in Palestinian Liberation.  Mamdani is doubling down on his radical ideology and he gets a visit to the White House? Trump says “he is not a jihadist”.  That’s comforting.  

Each point could be expanded upon and maybe in the future I will, but suffice to say this has been a horrible week for America and especially for Israel.  They are a friendly sovereign nation, not a vassal state of the US.  Let’s not forget that Trump brazenly told them no “annexation of Judea & Samaria” , their Biblical homeland, because Trump already told the Arabs that Israel wouldn’t do it.  

Look, I voted for Trump three times, but I have to be true to my integrity. I will call out bad policy when I see it.  Current events in light of Bible Prophecy, this has been a week the UN and the one worlders of global governance loved.  Trump has made bad decisions, hopefully Israel and cooler heads will prevail, but the cat is out of the bag.  Again this has been tried before, especially the two state solution, (Clinton’s Oslo Accords) has been tried and failed miserably. In effect the Palestinians have had a state called Gaza from which they executed a failed, but deadly attack that brings us to where we are now.  They don’t want a state, they want to destroy Israel, along with most of the Middle East.

Einstein’s definition of ignorance, “doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.”  Age-old hatred and mistrust dominate the key players in the Middle East.  The smart thing would be to “dance with the one who brought you,” (old country song).  That my friends would be Israel. Buckle your seat belts this could be a bumpy ride. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalms 122:6 Rh

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump

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Bin Salman on normalization with Israel

  • :We want to be a part of Abraham accords, but we also want to make sure that we ensure a path to a tow-state solution”.
  • Bin Salman: “Yes, absolutely Mr. President. We want peace for Israelis, we want peace for Palestinians.”
  • Trump asked about the F-35 deal, if it was conditional on normalization with Israel as Israel wanted. Trump: “Israel will be satisfied, they are aware of that.

Satisfied is different that Israel getting what they want. Politician speak. No doubt Israel will have to take a big spoon full of sugar to get this deal and many others being worked on done.

I have been against the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, however Amir Tsarfati “let me be clear no F-35 anywhere in the world is comparable to the Israeli ones, simple because Israel has installed Israeli-made systems that are unique to its occupational needs. The similarities are only external.” I must say that makes me feel better. I have also heard others say that the close connection between Israel and the US is that Israel will tell us how to make ours better once they put upgraded systems in the jets. Amazing! The money we send to Israel comes back in dividends to America, unlike any other money sent abroad.

Footnote: anyone expecting true peace is fooling themselves. New survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

  • More that 50% Gazans support Hamas conduct in the war
  • Same % oppose any attempt to dismantle or disarm the orginization
  • 44% Gazans & 59% of West Bank Arabs claim that Hamas’s decision to attack on October 7th was the right thing to do.
  • Even after thousands of deaths in Gaza – Hamas is not only still alive, but thriving.

If one believes the poll, which does not surprise me at all. Peace is elusive and since Phase 1 has not been accomplished, how can we move on and expect Phase 2 (disarmament to be accomplished.) Rh

U.S. Floats Two State Solution; Israel Say NO!

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Prime Minister Netanyahu opened today’s cabinet meeting with a blunt clarification: Israel’s policy has not changed, no Palestinian state, under any circumstances.

Netanyahu’s statement comes directly in response to the U.S. backed amendment inside the new UN framework for Gaza, which shifts language toward endorsing a “pathway to Palestinian statehood.” His message to Washington was unmistakable: Israel rejects any political process that advances Palestinian sovereignty west of the Jordan River.

Israel and the Trump administration are on a collision course regarding Saudi Arabia and its demands for joining the Abraham Accords. Recognition of a Palestinian state after October 7 massacre, would be a reward for terrorism and is completely unacceptable to an overwhelming majority of the Israel public. Amir Tsarfati

Israel & Iran Part 2

~ Randy Harris ~ Leave a comment

Israel and Iran are reportedly preparing for another war, although some analysts say it may not happen immediately. At the same time, the situation in Gaza appears frozen, with little progress on the ceasefire agreement and rising tensions in other Palestinian areas of the West Bank.

Iranian officials say their missile factories are operating around the clock because they hope to launch 2,000 missiles at once “to overwhelm Israeli defenses, rather than 500 over 12 days” as they did in June.

FULL STORY: cbn.com/news/israel

Peace is stalled in Gaza, or should I say never took hold. Experts believe Gaza could be divided for years between the IDF control and Hamas control of the strip. Rh